John J. Smith |
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Mass of Requiem For Lt. Smith (Jan. 18, 1945) -- Army Air Force pilot 2nd Lt. John J. Smith, 28 of New Street, was killed over England when the B-17 he was flying collided with another Flying Fortress on Jan. 5. It was one of the first times piloting a B-17 for Smith, who had trained on B-24s. Smith entered service on April 1943. He trained at Kessler Field, Miss; Helena, Ark., Maxwell Field, Ala., Greenville, Miss, and Lawrenceville, Ill. He received six months additional training inTexas, Nebraska, and Idaho. He last saw his wife and son on Nov. 28 before he left for overseas on dec. 11. Lt. Smith was also known for his 4-piece orchestra "The Crestmen" at Belleville High School.
2nd. Lt. John J. Smith, U.S. Army Air Forces O-833229 848th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Large Entered the Service from: New Jersey Buried at: Plot F Row 1 Grave 116
Sources:
Belleville Times, Feb. 8, 1945 Newark Evening News, Feb. 1, 1945
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